Walljasper One-Hitter Forces Deciding Game

Allie Walljasper one-hit the Seminoles as LSU secured a 1-0 win in the second game of the Super Regional, forcing a deciding third game and snapping FSU’s 36-game home winning streak.

While Carley Hoover controlled a tough Florida State lineup Friday, Walljasper was thoroughly dominant. The junior hurled a complete game allowing just five base runners, two on walks, one on an error, one on a hit batter and one on a hit, which came in the top of the seventh with two outs.

Walljasper’s only real challenge game in the first inning with runners on first and second with one out. The Tiger hurler got a lineout to third and a groundout to second to end the threat. From the second inning on, Walljasper was in command. Prior to allowing the lone hit in the seventh, Walljasper had retired the previous nine batters. She provided the dominant, shutdown outing the Tigers needed with ever present concerns with the offense

The Tigers were again held to one run for the second straight game, but the box score fails to tell the whole story.

LSU’s run came in the third when a Sydney Springfield walk and an FSU error by Jessie Warren allowed Amber Serrett to reach. Aliyah Andrews would single in Claire Weinberger, who had pinch ran for Springfield. Emily Griggs would leg out an infield single, loading the bases with two outs. Bailey Landry and Sahvanna Jaquish would both strikeout.

Amanda Doyle would come up and pop a soft fly ball behind the first base bag in fair territory. FSU’s Alex Powers backpedaled from first to play the fly, only to have the ball fall out of her glove and land in foul territory where it was declared a foul ball by the first base umpire. Later in the atbat, Doyle laced a shot down the left field line, which was also ruled a foul ball, despite at least one camera angle suggesting the ball hit the line.

LSU did hurt itself offensively in the fourth inning when with runners on first and third with one out, Amber Serrett failed to make contact as Shemiah Sanchez broke for home, resulting in Sanchez being thrown out trying to get back to third.

Thankfully, Walljasper didn’t need much more run support.

FSU went with Meghan King over Jessica Burroughs in Saturday’s game. King certainly was the beneficiary of some shaky officiating and Tiger mistakes, but still had a quality outing. Burroughs should still be expected to pitch the finale on Sunday.

Offensively, LSU did have some chances in Saturday’s game, chances that were arguably better than chances that came in Friday’s game. Unfortunately, LSU was still unable to capitalize but that wasn’t entirely due to failures by the Tigers.

Ultimately, LSU has hung with Florida State through the first two games and should have confidence entering the finale, Sunday at noon, CT, on ESPN.